The internet and your student!

The Daphne Middle School counselors want you to be informed as well as your student about the possible dangers lurking on the internet.  The wonderful new technologies associated with the internet can also introduce new dangers for children.  Our students are using chatrooms, instant-messaging programs, e-mail, web site, and other file-sharing services that can invite strangers into your home.  The internet allows predators of children to disguse their identity pretending to be another child. 

12 to 14 is the time when many kids become very social and when they are most likely to be interested in forbidden topics and often chat with other kids their age about their natural questions.  This age is also a time of social unrest for many pre-teens.  They often report having low self esteem and feeling alone in having people who "understand" them.  This is a passage that most all of us make it though without any serious injuries but with the new technology these type of insecurities are just the "red" flag that predators are looking for.  Our pre-teens have a strong desire for attention, validation, and affection along with a lack of caution or self-preservation.  Please have your teens in front of you if they are on the computer.  For more information go to onlinefamily.norton.org-this site helps you get log in history of your teen, netsmartz.org, playitcybersafe.com, and staysafeonline.org. 

The school counselors will be teaching this topic to your students the month of December!